A VOLUNTEER ARMY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 163, 3 April 1908, Page 7

A VOLUNTEER ARMY.

... / THE TRANSFORMATION. NEW TERRITORIAL FORCE. MOST OR THE MEN : RE-ENLISTING. BY TEIiEORAriI—PRESS ASSOCIATION COrYIUGIIT, Louden, April. 1. , Under the Territorial Army Act, all the yeomanry and' volunteer regiments • have been disbanded. Tho majority of tho men aro enlisting in tho territorial army. The evont was celebrated by -flinnors, eonoerts, mopk funerals,.and.in most oases the ceremonial blowing of "The Last Post." PRINCIPLES OF THE SCHEME. "I havo seen vour Volunteer force, and how in it .that yon (to not make fuller use of that magnificent material?" This remark, made by. the Kaiser to,Mr..Haldano. (Secretary for. War), when tho latter v,-as oh a', visit to Berlin -nearly two: years ago',, was quoted by Mr. Hahlane in a recent speech. The result of the •English lawyer-Minister's pondering on tlio : problem is'tho project now being initiated.'As Mr. Haldano puts it, "At a given-signal on' March 31 everyone moves up one"; the Militiaman becomes a Kogular, .the.' Volunteer a true Militiaman. • The 'Minister'quoted an article bythe Goneral Staff at' Berlin—''perhaps the most'competent-scientific military body that exists on the face of tllo earth just now"—to the effect "that, given, a voluntary system, Britain •' had reached •an organisation 'which,-would 'put its army alongside, in point of quality, any.: army in. tho world.. The French General Staff, too, was studying with Appreciation' the new- organisation;' so wore the Italians. : But friendly, criticism must not make tlieni think everything was accomplished, for, they'were just-at the beginning. Mr; Haldano also expressed pleasure that the counties had responded so magnificently as they had in forming the Associations. ■ But the Volunteers had got'to come 'in bflforp the",new organisation was a; success. With tho County -.Associations would, rest the responsibility, or raising' the' men, and of, saying how- and where ! thoy. : should' serve. : Having once handed over 'these duties'■'to.' the -Associations, .the War Office was going 'on the principle of meddling with them ; as little as possible; -.-The Associations would depute a good- deal to the headquarters of the-units, which, would.ensure details being dealt.- with :on tlie ' spot by people who: understood them;. ' , > : '